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Roel Ragay Degamo (April 29, 1966 – March 4, 2023) was a Filipino politician who served as
governor of Negros Oriental The Governor of Negros Oriental is the local chief executive and head of the Negros Oriental, Provincial Government of Negros Oriental. Along with the Governor of Negros Occidental and the Mayor of Bacolod, Mayor of the highly urbanized city of ...
from 2011 to June 2022, and again from October 2022 until his assassination on March 4, 2023. He previously served as the province's vice governor from 2010 to 2011, and was a municipal councilor of
Siaton Siaton (; ), officially the Municipality of Siaton, is a municipality and the southernmost settlement in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 83,082 people. The town is home to the ...
from 1998 to 2007. In the
2010 elections This is a list of elections that were held in 2010. * 2010 United Nations Security Council election * 2010 national electoral calendar * 2010 local electoral calendar Africa * 2010 Burkinabé presidential election * 2010 Burundian Senate election * ...
, he garnered the most votes for the Negros Oriental Provincial Board. With the successive deaths of the elected governor and vice governor, Degamo ascended to the governorship in January 2011. He was suspended from office in October 2017 until January 2018 due to three dismissal orders from the
Office of the Ombudsman An ombudsman ( , also ) is a government employee who investigates and tries to resolve complaints, usually through recommendations (binding or not) or mediation. They are usually appointed by the government or by parliament (often with a sign ...
stemming from allegations of misappropriating public funds. He successfully appealed his suspension and dismissal. Degamo lost the gubernatorial race to Pryde Henry Teves in the May 2022 elections. However, back in October 2021, during the run-up to the elections, Degamo filed an electoral complaint to have another gubernatorial candidate—an almost namesake known as "Ruel Degamo"—be declared a
nuisance candidate In the Philippines, a nuisance candidate is an official term for an aspirant candidate for a public office whose certificate of candidacy was not accepted by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) either ''motu proprio'' by the election body itsel ...
meant to "confuse and deceive" the electorate. The
Commission on Elections An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...
(COMELEC) ruled in the governor's favor, however, the latter candidate filed an appeal. The election pushed through before COMELEC made a final ruling on the case. In June 2022, a defeated Degamo filed a petition for
mandamus A writ of (; ) is a judicial remedy in the English and American common law system consisting of a court order that commands a government official or entity to perform an act it is legally required to perform as part of its official duties, o ...
at the
Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
, which compelled COMELEC to resolve the case. On October 3, 2022, COMELEC upheld their earlier decision and transferred votes obtained by Ruel to Roel, proclaiming him the election's true winner. On March 4, 2023, he was assassinated by a group of armed men at his home in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.


Personal life

Roel Ragay Degamo was born in Bonawon in the municipality of
Siaton Siaton (; ), officially the Municipality of Siaton, is a municipality and the southernmost settlement in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 83,082 people. The town is home to the ...
, Negros Oriental on April 29, 1966. He finished his primary and secondary education in his hometown and in
Dumaguete Dumaguete, officially the City of Dumaguete (; ; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city and capital of the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it h ...
, respectively; then earned his
bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...
in
mechanical engineering Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines and mechanism (engineering), mechanisms that may involve force and movement. It is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and engineering mathematics, mathematics principl ...
from
Silliman University Silliman University (also referred to as Silliman or SU) is a private, Protestant, and research university located in Dumaguete City, Philippines. Established in 1901 as Silliman Institute by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, it is ...
in 1989. He passed the licensure examinations that same year. Prior to entering politics, Degamo worked as a mechanic and driver. He worked at the
National Power Corporation The National Power Corporation (, also known as NAPOCOR, NPC or National Power) is a Philippine government-owned and controlled corporation that is mandated to provide electricity to all rural areas of the Philippines by 2025 (known as "mission ...
since 1991; was promoted in 1992 as senior plant mechanic, and in 1995 as electrical control operator of the Integrated Barge Management Department, both positions ''co-terminus'' with the project. His dismissal in 1997 was later reversed by the
Court of Appeals An appellate court, commonly called a court of appeal(s), appeal court, court of second instance or second instance court, is any court of law that is empowered to hear a case upon appeal from a trial court or other lower tribunal. Appellat ...
(CA). Degamo's widow is incumbent Pamplona, Negros Oriental mayor Janice Vallega-Degamo. His only, adopted son, Carlo Remontal (also known as Carlo Degamo Remontal), and his nephew-turned-adopted son, Nyrth Christian, are members of the Negros Oriental Provincial Board.


Political career


Siaton Municipal Council (1998–2007)

Degamo started his political career in his hometown of Siaton, serving three consecutive terms in the ''
Sangguniang Bayan The Sangguniang Bayan () is the local legislative branch of the municipal governments in the Philippines. It is responsible for passing ordinances and resolutions for the administration of a municipality. Its powers are defined by the Local Go ...
'' (municipal council) from 1998 to 2007. He concurrently served as president of the Provincial Councilors League (PCL) of Negros Oriental from 2004 to 2007, making him an ''ex officio'' member of the Negros Oriental Provincial Board. He was also elected as Region VII chairperson, which entitled him to a seat in the National Board of the Philippine Councilor's League.


Vice Governor of Negros Oriental (2010–2011)

In the
2010 elections This is a list of elections that were held in 2010. * 2010 United Nations Security Council election * 2010 national electoral calendar * 2010 local electoral calendar Africa * 2010 Burkinabé presidential election * 2010 Burundian Senate election * ...
he ran for a regular seat in the Negros Oriental Provincial Board, and won with the highest number of votes, representing the 3rd legislative district of the province. Degamo assumed the position of vice-governor when vice governor-elect
Agustin Perdices Agustin Ramon Miciano Perdices (October 16, 1934 – January 5, 2011), fondly known as Tuting, was a Filipino politician. He served as the mayor of the city of Dumaguete from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2001 to 2010 before being elected vice gove ...
assumed the gubernatorial position vacated by the elected governor Emilio Macias II, who died before taking his oath of office for another term. However, Governor Perdices died in January 2011 and in accordance with the Local Government Code, Degamo became the governor.


Governor of Negros Oriental (2011–2023)


First four terms (2011–2022)

After serving the remainder of Perdices' term, Degamo was elected governor on his own right for three consecutive terms: in 2013 (under
PDP–Laban The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP, ) is a populist political party in the Philippines founded in 1982. It was previously known as Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP–Laban) from 1983 to 2024 as a result of a merger with L ...
), in 2016 (under
National Unity Party The National Unity Party, National United Party, Party of National Unity or National Unity Front may refer to: * National United Party of Afghanistan (founded 2003) * National Unity Party (Albania) * National United Party (Armenia), defunct * Natio ...
), and in 2019 (under
Nacionalista Party The Nacionalista Party (Filipino language, Filipino and Spanish language in the Philippines, Spanish: ''Partido Nacionalista''; , NP) is a political party in the Philippines which is the oldest existing party in the country and in Southeast Asi ...
).


=Controversies

= Degamo had received three dismissal orders from the
Office of the Ombudsman An ombudsman ( , also ) is a government employee who investigates and tries to resolve complaints, usually through recommendations (binding or not) or mediation. They are usually appointed by the government or by parliament (often with a sign ...
during his tenure from 2011 to 2022: *In 2016, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered Degamo's dismissal for alleged calamity fund misuse from
Typhoon Sendong Severe Tropical Storm Washi, known in the Philippines as Severe Tropical Storm Sendong, was a late-season tropical cyclone that caused around 1,200 to 2,500 deaths and catastrophic damage in the Philippines in late 2011. Washi made landfall o ...
in 2011 worth P480 million, but he was able to secure a 60-day Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) from the CA blocking the suspension. *In 2017, Degamo was suspended for three months for alleged usurpation of calamity funds from the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in 2012. Then vice governor Mark Macias took over the governorship in an acting capacity for 90 days. *Also in late 2017, while Degamo was serving his suspension, the Office of the Ombudsman issued another dismissal order against Degamo after he was found guilty of grave misconduct over alleged misuse of worth of intelligence funds in 2013. While on suspension, Degamo was able to secure another TRO from the CA on January 11, 2018, to block the dismissal order but the
Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
dissolved the TRO on November 13, 2019. However, it was later revealed that the CA already resolved the case and cleared Degamo as early as September 2019, hindering once again his dismissal.


=Accomplishments

= Degamo, as provincial governor, continued programs of his predecessors, along with other projects in his first days in office. His administration had a banner program, ''HELP (Health, Education and Environment, Livelihood Programs, Projects for Peace and Development)''. Among his projects were the construction of additional classrooms, upgrading of community primary hospitals, and construction of support infrastructures for local tourist spots, as well as sports development in the province. Among his accomplishments at the hospitals were additional facilities at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital including an oxygen generating plant, a ''
Malasakit Center The Malasakit Center refers to a chain of one-stop-shop centers for medical and financial assistance provided by various agencies of the Philippine government. History The center is meant as a one-stop shop for government medical assistance fo ...
'' and an Eye Center, as well as an Emergency Maternal Neonatal Care facility, one of a total of 34 such facilities established by the provincial government. A program initiated in 2019 successfully increased the rate of access to sanitary toilet by 9%. In the same year, the
Department of Health A health department or health ministry is a part of government which focuses on issues related to the general health of the citizenry. Subnational entities, such as states, counties and cities, often also operate a health department of their o ...
(DOH) declared
Negros Oriental Negros Oriental (; ), officially the Province of Negros Oriental (; ), is a province in the Philippines located in the Negros Island. Its capital is the city of Dumaguete, one of the two regional centers of Negros Island Region, with the other b ...
as one of the 10 malaria-free provinces in the country based on standards of the
World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a list of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Gen ...
. In 2022, the province received recognitions from the DOH for its projects on medical services. Adhering to the
Paris Agreement The Paris Agreement (also called the Paris Accords or Paris Climate Accords) is an international treaty on climate change that was signed in 2016. The treaty covers climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance. The Paris Agreement was ...
, in 2018, Degamo issued an executive order mandating the use of
renewable energy Renewable energy (also called green energy) is energy made from renewable resource, renewable natural resources that are replenished on a human lifetime, human timescale. The most widely used renewable energy types are solar energy, wind pow ...
in the province and imposed a moratorium on
coal Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as rock strata called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other Chemical element, elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. Coal i ...
, which he strongly opposed. As a result, the province became the first country's sub-national government member of the
Powering Past Coal Alliance The Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) is a group of 186 countries, cities, regions and organisations aiming to accelerate the coal phase-out of coal-fired power stations, except the very few which have carbon capture and storage. It has been de ...
. Fifty-one local Marine Protected Areas were established in the province. With Negros Oriental still the only province in
Central Visayas Central Visayas (; or ) is an Regions of the Philippines, administrative region in the Philippines, numerically designated as Region VII. With only two Provinces of the Philippines, provinces: Cebu and Bohol, as well as three Cities of the Phi ...
to face the problem of communist insurgency, his administration started development projects. The province was the first in the country to establish its Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, in 2019, with Degamo as chairperson. More than a month prior to his death, Degamo said that they were 80% "towards gearing a zero insurgency." The task force reportedly proposed the construction of a primary hospital in Tamlang Valley for the residents of Santa Catalina,
Pamplona Pamplona (; ), historically also known as Pampeluna in English, is the capital city of the Navarre, Chartered Community of Navarre, in Spain. Lying at near above sea level, the city (and the wider Cuenca de Pamplona) is located on the flood pl ...
, and
Valencia Valencia ( , ), formally València (), is the capital of the Province of Valencia, province and Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Valencian Community, the same name in Spain. It is located on the banks of the Turia (r ...
, as well as a social housing project for former communist insurgents, to address insurgency problems. In 2019, the province ranked as one of the country's top destinations, while
Dumaguete Dumaguete, officially the City of Dumaguete (; ; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city and capital of the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it h ...
was recognized as one of the world's best places to retire.


2022 elections and fifth term

Degamo, running under
Nacionalista Party The Nacionalista Party (Filipino language, Filipino and Spanish language in the Philippines, Spanish: ''Partido Nacionalista''; , NP) is a political party in the Philippines which is the oldest existing party in the country and in Southeast Asi ...
, sought re-election in 2022 for a fourth consecutive term after the
Commission on Elections An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...
(COMELEC) controversially allowed him to run despite completing three straight terms claiming that his three terms in office were interrupted a number of times following suspension and dismissal orders by the
Office of the Ombudsman An ombudsman ( , also ) is a government employee who investigates and tries to resolve complaints, usually through recommendations (binding or not) or mediation. They are usually appointed by the government or by parliament (often with a sign ...
, but lost to
Bayawan Bayawan, officially the City of Bayawan (), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city in the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population o ...
City mayor Pryde Henry Teves. Teves took his oath of office on June 30, 2022, however, Teves and Degamo had a brief standoff for hours as Degamo refused to vacate the office, but eventually conceded and exited after negotiations. Earlier, on December 16, 2021, a COMELEC division granted the petition filed by Degamo declaring another gubernatorial candidate, a certain ''Ruel Degamo'', whose real name is Grego Gaudia, as a
nuisance Nuisance (from archaic ''nocence'', through Fr. ''noisance'', ''nuisance'', from Lat. ''nocere'', "to hurt") is a common law tort. It means something which causes offence, annoyance, trouble or injury. A nuisance can be either public (also "com ...
. However, the almost-imitated name (''Ruel Degamo'') remained on the official ballot pending a final COMELEC ''en banc'' ruling by election day. On September 1, 2022, the commission denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Gaudia, upholding its earlier ruling. Later that month, the COMELEC, deciding with finality on the declaration about Gaudia, moved to nullify the victory of Teves. The votes garnered by Gaudia would be credited to Degamo, surpassing those by Teves; therefore enough to win. Degamo was proclaimed on October 3, and yet to report to the provincial capitol to assume the governorship once again. Degamo took his oath before President
Bongbong Marcos Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. (, , ; born September 13, 1957), commonly referred to by the initials BBM or PBBM, is a Filipino politician who has served as the 17th president of the Philippines since 2022. He is the second child ...
at the
Malacañang Palace Malacañang Palace (, ), officially known as Malacañán Palace, is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the Philippines. It is located in the Manila district of San Miguel, Manila, San Miguel, along Jose Laurel S ...
on October 5. Meanwhile, Teves, refusing to step down, had filed an appeal before the
Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
(SC) to contest the latest COMELEC ruling, which was expected to be decided by October 11. However, on that date, the SC had not acted yet on the appeal; Teves later voluntarily relinquished the governorship. On February 14, 2023, the SC ''en banc'' dismissed the petitions separately filed by Teves, as well as by Gaudia; thus, the COMELEC's declaration of Degamo's victory was affirmed.


Massacre and death

On March 4, 2023, at approximately 9:36 a.m., Degamo was shot several times by unidentified men at his residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental. He was distributing aid to local beneficiaries of the
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (English: Bridging Program for the Filipino Family), also known as 4Ps and formerly ''Bangon Pamilyang Pilipino'', is a conditional cash transfer program of the Philippine government under the Department of S ...
(4Ps) program when the attack happened. He was rushed to Negros Polymedic Hospital in
Sibulan Sibulan, officially the Municipality of Sibulan (; ), is a municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 64,343 people. Sibulan is from Dumaguete. It is the location of Du ...
, but was pronounced dead at 11:41 a.m. Nine other people were also killed in the shooting, along with 17 injured. He was later interred at his family mausoleum in Siaton, alongside his parents and sister.


Perpetrator

Until mid-March 2024, eight suspects, including two alleged masterminds—one of them Arnolfo Teves Jr.—were later arrested, one of them in a separate raid; five others surrendered. Criminal charges were separately filed against four of them before the
Regional Trial Court The regional trial courts (RTC; ) are the highest trial courts in the Philippines. In criminal matters, they have original jurisdiction. History It was formerly called as the Court of First Instance since the Spanish colonial period. It cont ...
s (RTCs) in two cities in the province. These were later transferred by the
Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
to the
Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
RTC; the rest of the suspects, as well as three others, were later indicted. Almost forty cases have been filed. Another suspect died in an encounter with state forces in
Bindoy Bindoy (formerly Payabon), officially the Municipality of Bindoy (; ), is a municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 40,308 people. History The current site of poblacion ...
. The arrest warrants against the three have been issued. Before being charged in August 2023, Teves was among the 13 designated by the Anti-Terrorism Council as terrorists; and being the province's 3rd district representative, was later expelled by the
House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...
. In 2024, Teves was arrested by authorities in
Dili Dili (Portuguese language, Portuguese and Tetum language, Tetum: ''Díli'') is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Timor-Leste. It lies on the northern coast of the island of Timor, in a small area of flat land hemmed in by mountai ...
,
Timor-Leste Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the coastal exclave of Oecusse in the island's northwest, and ...
about a month after a
red notice An Interpol notice is an international alert circulated by Interpol to communicate information about crimes, criminals, and threats by police in a member state (or an authorised international entity) to their counterparts around the world. The in ...
was issued for him by the
International Criminal Police Organization The International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL (abbreviated as ICPO–INTERPOL), commonly known as Interpol ( , ; stylized in allcaps), is an international organization that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime cont ...
(Interpol). His
extradition In an extradition, one Jurisdiction (area), jurisdiction delivers a person Suspect, accused or Conviction, convicted of committing a crime in another jurisdiction, into the custody of the other's law enforcement. It is a cooperative law enforc ...
to the Philippines is being arranged.


Notes


References


External links


Province of Negros Oriental
official website {{DEFAULTSORT:Degamo, Roel 1966 births 2023 deaths Governors of Negros Oriental Assassinated Filipino politicians Assassinated governors and heads of sub-national entities Nacionalista Party politicians United Nationalist Alliance politicians Silliman University alumni 20th-century Filipino politicians Politicians assassinated in 2023